Apparatus for use in extracting metals from ores.



PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

J. F. WEBB. APPARATUS FOR USE IN EXTRACTING METALS FROM ORES.

I APPLIUATION FILED JULY 25. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

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U ITED STATES Patented June 2, 1903.

PATE T OFFICE.

JEAN FRANCIS WEBB, OF DENVER, COLORADQ-ASSIGNOR TO PNEUMATIC CYANIDE PROCESS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN EXTRACTING METALS FROM ORES.

SPECIFICATIONfOrming part Of Letters Batent N0. -729,819, dated June 2, 1903.

Application filed July 25, 1902.

. To all whmn it may concern:

the extraction of gold and silver from their tion which takes place in the reduction of ores through the agency of solutions requir ing such presence of oxygen by means'of air supplied through perforated pipes located u'n-S derneath the false or filter bottom of the tank.

I have found that when the. pipes are so lo-' cated unequal res'istancein the filter causes the air forced through the false or filter. bot-j tom to act in spots or locally, so that not only. are large areas of the filtering-bottom 'unaf-r fected, but also the air is forced'in compara-f tively large streams through parts only of the mass of crushed ore and solution'in the tank, whereby not only is the filtering unequal, but the agitation of the said massand the distribution of the oxygenizing agent are unequalf and impaired.

The devices by which I have remedied the diliiculties inherent in the apparatus heretofore known and by which I have rendere'dits. operation effective are hereinafter ,fully explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which-- v p Figure 1 represents the apparatus intransverse vertical section on line a: :r'ofhig. 2. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows an enlarged detail view.

In the drawings the tank is shown at A;' but I Wish it understood that the form shown is only for illustration and that the form and extent may be varied at pleasure. Near the bottom of the tank is located the false bottom 2. This is composed of any material of suit- Serial no. 117,031. Kllo mean.)

able strength and filtering qualities for the work to be done. I prefer to use a wooden grating covered with burlap on the upper surface. Below the false or filtering bottom is the true bottom 3, and an intermediate chambereis shown, into which the liquid may percolate through the filter orfalse bottom.

A pipe 5 from this chamber with a suitable stop serves for drainage. For the removal of the pulp holes are provided in the false bot:

tom, as shown a't'6, and in line therewith in the true bottom are holes, as shown at 7, with suitable detachable covers, these holes being innumber adapted to the area of the bottom or size of tank.

Above the false or filter bottom, but located near it,is a main pipe or header 8, which is placed, preferably, diametrically across the false bottom. This may be made of cast-iron, and it is connected with a pipe, as 15, leading from any suitable air-forcing apparatus. From the main pipe or header the air is distributed through branch pipes or members 9. These arelmade to conform to the shape of the tank, that shown being cylindrical, and

Itis necessary for the best effect that the aircurrents should be evenly and generally distributed over the whole extent of the filter-bottom For such effect there should be even and uniform agitation throughout the mass of crushed ore and liquid in the tank, and there should be also the same even and uniform distribution of the air to every particle of ore in the tank. To these ends, therefore, the ourrents of air should be finely divided, andI pro- :vide numerous orifices in every branch pipe,

so thatthere may be many small currents of air to prevent this tendency I utilize the jets of air by turning them downward, so as to cause them to impinge upon the bottom and by their action sweep the surface and keep it clear of? the slime and fine particles. The arrangement of these orifices is shown at 10 in Fig. 3. Theyare made in both sides of each pipe about forty-five degrees from the vertical diameter, so as to direct thejet 11 at an angle of forty-five degrees, more or less, to the bottom. The lines of jets from adjacent pipes are thus directed toward each other, as shown in the figures, and preferably I stagger the orifices so that the orifices of one pipe are opposite the spaces between orifices in the opposite pipe. This moreeffectually covers the whole surface.

The proportion of the number of pipes and orifices to any given area of bottom may be left to the skill of the workman to be determined by the special conditions of the work to be done; but ordinarily a space of three inches between the branch pipes or members would be sufiicient, and generally it may be stated that these spaces and the distance between the orifices should be sufficient to keep the filter-bottom clear. This even distribution of the air upon the false bottom besides permitting the filter to act without obstruction and uniformly at the same time constantly supplies the air equally spread over the false bottom and free to rise to all parts of the mass above the bottom.

I have shown only one header; butthere may be more than one and, further, the pipe may be arranged in the form of a coil, the several folds of the coil serving as the members or branches herein shown.'

I claim 1. An apparatus for extracting metals by chemical process, the same comprising a tank provided with a filter-bottom, and a perforated pipe placed within the tank above and near the filter-bottom and connected with an air-supply device, said perforations being arranged to discharge the streams of air upon the bottom, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for extracting metals from their ores,a tank provided with a filterbottom, and a pipe or header fitted to supply air, said pipe havin'glateral parallel branches, extending across and near the said bottom within the tank, said branch pipes being provided with perforations arranged to discharge small streams of air downward upon the bottom,- substantially as described.

3. A tank for use in extracting metals by chemical process from their ores, having a filterbottom and means for discharging air within the tank and downwardly upon the said bottom whereby the said bottom is kept free from cloggingand air is supplied to agitate the mass withinthe tank and supply oxygen thereto, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JEAN FRANCIS WEBB.

Witnesses:

A. O. HAR'I MAN, W. C. MAC-DONALD. 

